The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    jollyroger's picture

    Cops gone wild

    By jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 6:24am |

    Those who follow these issues will have noted with satisfaction that governor Cuomo is now pushing a modification of the marijuana laws in the state of New York.

    At present, possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana is not a crime but an "infraction", involving not processing through the criminal justice system, but payment of a fine.

    "Open display" of marijuana on the other hand, is a misdemeanor which will lead to the arrest of the offender.

    Capitalizing on this distinction to pad their arrest numbers, NYC cops employ an ingenious strategy: In the course of a stop and frisk, they will reach into the pocket of the subject, and remove the contents.

    A small bag of weed thus exposed to " public view" becomes the basis for an arrest.

    Notwithstanding the unified position of Cuomo, Bloomberg, and all five county district attorneys, the Republican led State Senate is resisting amending the law.

    Quelle surprise...

    But the more interesting wrinkle is this: When this creative police practice was revealed months ago by WNYC, Commisioner Kelly issued a memo to the cops reminding them that such arrests were unlawful.

    Cuomo's initiative has come in response to the unabated continuation of the cited police conduct.

    Who's in charge here?

    Apparently, not Commisioner Kelly.

     

    Comments

    Did you see the report on the NY Supreme Court judge who was attacked by NY cops?

    Thomas D. Raffaele, a 69-year-old justice of the New York State Supreme Court, encountered a chaotic scene while walking down a Queens street with a friend: Two uniformed police officers stood over a shirtless man lying facedown on the pavement. The man’s hands were cuffed behind his back and he was screaming. A crowd jeered at the officers......The judge, concerned the crowd was becoming unruly, called 911 and reported that the officers needed help.....within minutes, he said, one of the two officers became enraged — and the judge became his target. The officer screamed and cursed at the onlookers, some of whom were complaining about what they said was his violent treatment of the suspect, and then he focused on Justice Raffaele, who was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The judge said the officer rushed forward and, using the upper edge of his hand, delivered a sharp blow to the judge’s throat...

    Perhaps the incident will change the weight the judge gives to the truthfulness of cop testimony and/or their stories about why they ran wild on the streets beating people up.


    by NCD on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 10:11am

    The judge was concerned about the crowd becoming unruly, no the handcuffed guy. He was attacked by an officer. Apparently the other police officers did not "see" the attack. 


    by rmrd0000 on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 10:52am

    Which attack, the one the cops executed on the guy cuffed on the ground, or the one on the 69 year old judge? Or both? If no cop sees a flagrant assault by police and an abuse of force, does it exist?


    by NCD on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 1:27pm

    They had bilateral blindness.


    by rmrd0000 on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 2:21pm

    The new informal wear for cops. Blue T-shirt, white letters. Snitches get stiches.

    Picture of Serpico on the right upper quandrant.

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 7:27pm

    True fact. Serpico once saw.a picture of me and said " Hey that guy looks just like me" This is not what you want to hear if you walk the streets of New York...

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 7:32pm

    Wow!

    Well now the cop (or cops) will make a great repub; no job, no pension, no future!

    I don't know, will this guy even find a job as a guard at a mall?


    by Richard Day on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 3:19pm

    “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”

    James Arthur Baldwin

     


    by chucktrotter on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 5:15pm

    What are the odds of attacking a superior court judge in jeans?

    Huh?

    How many peasants has this guy or guys attacked in the last 20 years?

    damn!

    Once in awhile, serendipity works! ha

    How ya doin Chuck?


    by Richard Day on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 6:47pm

    I'm guessin' three peasants per shift, plus one per hour of overtime, for the irritation. Double when humidity over 90%.

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 7:19pm

    My guess is the cop will get off with a paid suspension and crowd management training at some expensive hotel resort.

    As I recently posted, a national cop organization is supporting a Seattle cop with a case before the Supreme Court, who multiple tased a pregnant Mom with a small kid in the car for not signing a school zone speeding ticket, then dragged her to the pavement, arrested her and booked her into jail. The Appeals Court said it was excessive, the cops disagree.

    Cops today think they can do anything to anybody, although attacking judges does break new ground, I would like to see the same sort of thing happen to Scalia someday.


    by NCD on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 7:34pm

    To add insult to injury, in this case even though the force was found to be excessive, the cops were granted immunity, but appealed on principle.

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 7:47pm

    Thanks for asking DD.  Still south of you absorbing all of your contaminated water.  Waiting for the Miss to drop another foot so that I may seek the wily walleye.  (Catch and release!)  Watch for your posts every day...Had I half of your intellect!  Going through the aging process with a few visits to La Crosse.  Still smoking and drinking and reading.  Met a Dr. at Mayo who had his clinic blown out by Katrina.  A nice guy, but he's a true coon ass.  Think I'll adopt him and teach him a few river rat tricks.  Hope you're doing well and don't quit writing...I do get drowsy reading epistles which you tend to avoid.

    Chuck


    by chucktrotter on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 8:23pm

    I normally limit my intrusions into overheard conversations to when I am next to a few cute girls at a bar. You guys don't qualify, but I wonder if I by epistles you are referring to the work of Saul of Tarsus, the greatest marketing genius of all time, author of the jingle "No need to snip it, you just have to dip it"...(substituting baptism for circumcision in conversion to Christianity)


    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 9:16pm

    jollyroger:

    Perhaps my reply to DD was not appropriate, but I'm not on Facebook nor Twitter, so responded in the only way I could.  Your response was  welcome if I was blessed with the education (intellect) to understand what you were inferring with your post.  I have never heard of Saul of Tarsus nor associated circumcision with "How are you doing, Chuck?"  Please translate to one with an average intellect what you are inferring.  No hostility implied!  Thnx...

     

    Chuck


    by chucktrotter on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 10:09pm

    No harm, no foul. I am delighted by all traffic, especially when it helps two friends stay in touch. I thought you were referencing St. Paul's Epistles, and was snarking about this http://ebible.org/web/Romans.htm Too obscure.

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 10:36pm

    On second read, I see that you were clearly referencing letters from DD. As usual, I was too high...

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 10:55pm

    jollyrodger:

    I have never read the Bible.  I do pray and believe in miracles.  I DO NOT discuss religion or politics.  Thank you for the "no harm", as your evaluation of my post to DD was, truly, not a shadow of any secret doctrine.  I did not read what you posted as I'm not interested in opinionated BS.  Whoops!  I guess my last statement is opinionated!  Anyway, I hold DD in the greatest esteem and highly value his recognition of me.  And that is that.  My posts are short and sweet...I imply nothing!  Thanks for being understanding,  jolly.

    Chuck


    by chucktrotter on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 11:20pm

    "Zip it" 


    by Resistance on Fri, 06/08/2012 - 7:28am

    I think that was Ephesians, but you would know better than I...

    by jollyroger on Fri, 06/08/2012 - 4:19pm

    Yeah, I contemplated a two-fer but the cop-on-judge battery will, of course, be put down to one rogue member of the force. Kelly simply has not enforced the stated law to bring his employees to heel.

    by jollyroger on Thu, 06/07/2012 - 3:26pm

    "The Constitution has been thrown out the window when it comes to stops" Today a former high ranking cop sheds light on the contradictions (ostensible) implicit in the memo from Kelly and the continued unlawful police conduct. A new mayor and an Inspector General are coming. It can't happen soon enough.

    by jollyroger on Mon, 06/18/2012 - 2:58am

    wild with their guns too. Needed: "gun control"

    by jollyroger on Sat, 08/25/2012 - 7:57pm